Rebels Overrun Largest Military Airbase in North Syria

"The fighting at Taftanaz military airport ended at 11:00 am (0900 GMT) and the base is entirely in rebel hands," said Syrian Observatory for Human Rights director Rami Abdel Rahman.

The base soon thereafter, however, came under aerial attack by government fighter jets, the Britain-based Observatory said in a later statement.

"Warplanes are bombing Taftanaz military airport in an attempt to destroy it," it said.

The capture of the base marks an important advance for the rebels, who control vast swathes of Syria's north and east and are battling President Bashar Assad's forces in most major cities, including on the outskirts of Damascus.

"This is the largest airbase to be seized since the revolt began" nearly 22 months ago, Abdel Rahman told Agence France Presse by phone.

The rebels have previously taken control of the relatively small Hamdan airport in Albu Kamal on the Iraqi border in the east, and the Marj al-Sultan military airport in Damascus province.

The assault on Taftanaz was led by jihadist fighters from the a-Nusra Front, Ahrar al-Sham and Islamic Vanguard battalions, as well as other rebel groups, the Observatory said.

Many soldiers and officers fled the base at dawn, while the total number of casualties for each side was not immediately known.

The rebels seized several military vehicles and a major weapons depot.

Government forces, however, managed to pull out most of the 60 helicopters deployed at the airbase, leaving behind 20 choppers that are no longer in working condition, the Observatory said.

The U.N. estimates more than 60,000 people have died since the outbreak of the revolt against Assad's regime in March 2011.

so by your logic there were over 60,000 "terrorists" in Syria that magically decided to all wake up? the only terrorists are ASSad, nasrocrap and their thugs, and they re the ones that are being killed like today's attack on the military convoy going to meet ASSad...keep watching dunya though, you are going to be SO informed!

These rebels are not the Free Syrian Army (the FSA is controlled by KSA and the West). They are Jihadists made up of mostly thousands of foreign fighters. The largest by far is the NUSRA front, which Zionist America put them on the "terrorist list" because America does not control them. The Syrian Army backed by over 100,000 Baathist militias from ALL SECTS (and especially the non-Sunni minorities) are strengthening their positions around the country and purposely weakening their positions in the Aleppo/Idlib area. It is in the regime's interest to loose areas to the Al-qaida linked groups than to the FSA. America and the West prefer the Asad's who have kept the Golan Heights quiet for Israel than the Rebels. They just want to see Arab blood spilled.

It is a war between iran and the sunis, what's your stupid point? Gone r the days when sunis dont shoot back, your syrian regime exchanged 2000 syrian heroes including women for 48 iranians, isnt that evidence that it is a war between iran and suni arabs?

first priority is to oust bashar and the dictatorial baath party that did more harm to lebanon than any other country. then if salafis take power it will be another fight... but stop being frightened as M8 wants you to! they want to preserve bashar and his clique that is why they frighten lebanese with sharia laws and wahabi regime!

but if it happens then if will be another combat :) every thing in its time !

"will be another combat"??? did the M14 forces fought bravely in 2005 and kicked out the Syrian Army? The Jihadists do not pay attention to any political or economic pressure in Lebanon or anywhere else like the Syrian government did in 2005! Be careful what you wish for (and this is not coming from M8).

Just like you support the Shia militia who follows the mullahs of Iran lady. Keep your words to itself because you are shooting yourself in the foot. You are supporting a regime that raped Lebanon for over 30 yrs, killed thousands and destroyed us. Shame on u!

Maybe because they are too busy running away from ur murdering idol. Jcamerican. How come you have the name of the great Satan in ur alias? Didn't Hassan and bashar teach ypu that the west is evil? Hypocrit.

yep. solar energy is being promoted. (you can produce solar energy and EDL will buy it from you) But without state subsidies (like in the west), it makes no commercial sense yet, hence the lack of enthousiasm. When the barrel of Brent reaches 150, it will be another story.

Nah man dont stop. Im always on this forum reading mostly all comments. But i only comment when i see something interesting. Just ignore karim, jabal, and the likes, steer away from their comments and you should be fine :p